Improved gunpowder



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TAYLOR, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVED GUNPOWDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 97,567, dated December 7, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS TAYLOR, of Washington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Composition; of Gunpowder for use in ordnance and small-arms, of which the following is a specification:

It is-well known to ordnance officers and those skilled in the manufacture of gunpowder that any improvement which will regulate the burning of it without increasing its residue, or diminishing its volume of gases, will prove of great value. When rifle-powder is employed for heavy ordnance it tends to rupture the piece, as its explosive force is too great, resembling the nature of fulminates. It is desirable to use rifle-powder, as its burning qualities are necessarily uniform. For small-arms the slightly fulminating qualities are scarcely observed; but for heavy ordnance the evil is so great it cannot be used. As a remedy, large-grained powder has been used, and with some success, as regards the timing of burning; For example, when fifty pounds of mammoth or large-grained powder is used as a charge in a fifteen-inch smooth-bore gun with a suitable shot a given pressure and velocity are obtained. It is also found that some of the powder is discharged unburned. With a charge of sixty pounds an increase of pressure and velocity are obtained; but it is observed that the discharge of unburned powder has increased also, although as a whole a greater amount of powder is consumed. It is found by actual experiment that those conditions continue with increased charges up to one hundred pounds and over. Thus the increased velocity is gained with a great waste of gunpowder.

The object ofmy invention is to prevent this waste of powder, and secure more regularity of burning. To secure those desirable results I combine with ordinary gunpowder paraffine during the process of manufacture.

I form the mass or compound, composed of sulphur, charcoal, niter, and paraffine, into a paste with water, and granulate in the usual manner. I use in the manufacture about 100 parts niter, 17.76 charcoal, 15.86 sulphur, to which I add about more or less, by weight of paraffine.

Parafline is a solid hydrocarbon, possessing very peculiar properties, and unlike any other substance. It is resolved into gas by heat withoutresidue, and burns without smoke. Its carbon combines during ignition with oxygen, forming carbonic oxide or carbonic acid. lts hydrogen combines with oxygen, forming watery vapor. Paraffine powder will, therefore, give a greater volume of gases with a less residue than the best ordinary gunpowder, weight for weight, and its explosive force will be increased. Its tendency to ignite by friction will decrease in proportion to the amount of paraffiue present.

' This gunpowder maybe employed for all general purposes, and will prove the most valuable compound yet devised for ordnance and small-arms, and forming what I call paraffine gunpowder.

Having described the nature of my invention and its uses I shall now set forth my claim.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The combination of parafiine with ordinary gunpowder in all proportions, for the purposes substantially set forth and described.

' THOMAS TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

J. R. McOoNNELL, EDM. F. BROWN. 

